Chapter 44
Chapter forty-four
Rhys
You Don't Just Want It, You Need It
My entire body tenses as Mike holds my chin. My throat burns, my chest caves, and I want to shove him off but I can't. I can't cause a scene.
Instead I keep my lips closed, biting my tongue until I taste metal, praying Duncan never sees this.
Seconds ago, as I was singing his song, I almost choked up with the desire to speak to him.
Duncan. I jerk back and then turn to the country starlette on my other side and lean down to kiss her on the cheek. Her hand flies to my chest and I feel her leg kick up behind her and I'm glad she's putting on a bit of a show.
Keeping my back turned to Mike I doll out hugs and kisses to everyone else on the stage and then lean into the microphone and wish the crowd good night.
As I march off stage I hear him jogging after me.
"Rhys, wait up."
I see Zara standing there and she looks shocked. My simmering rage starts to boil over. "Did you have anything to do with that?"
She shakes her head vigorously. "No, Rhys, I swear."
"Fine, but you're going to fix it." Zara nods and presses her lips together.
"Rhys, c'mon. We were so good together."
I turn on him. "Then why did you cheat? Why did you leave?"
"I needed the publicity, you weren't on tour, you weren't going to public events. I needed to be seen."
"Fuck off Mike."
"Wait, wait." He jumps in front of me. "Just like that we're done."
"Yes. Just like that. You ended this the minute you started shit with Saylor Vane behind my back."
He pauses and tilts his head to the side. "Would you have been okay with it if it wasn't behind your back? Like if she joined us? Because, yeah, that would work."
"No it wouldn't." My dressing room is so close. I just want to get to my phone to call Duncan.
Mike continues, jogging to keep up with me. His hands come up to land on my chest and when my eyes narrow dangerously he pulls them back. "Fine, fine but like think about it."
"No." I shove past him.
"Alright, we can table that for later."
I spin on him and he stutters to a stop. "There is no later. This is done. I don't even understand why you're back now."
"I, umm." He looks over my shoulder. Glancing back I see his publicist watching us.
"Spit it out, Meek." I sneer his ridiculous pronunciation at him.
It's the most forceful tone I've ever used with him.
It makes me feel strong, and purposeful.
Things I felt innately with Duncan. Our hard and soft places fit together like puzzle pieces.
It was a push and a pull between us. Equals, no ulterior motives.
"I was just hoping to reconnect, is all."
"Bull shit." Zara says as she comes up to stand next to me, scrolling. She turns her phone to the both of us showing an industry announcement headline with his picture under it. "His next role is as a deaf man."
If I wasn’t already convinced the man in front of me is human trash, this confirms it.
"Unbelievable. So what, you thought you'd just snuggle up to me again and get me to endorse your role because my parents are deaf? Get the fuck out of my sight."
I turn my back on him and storm into my dressing room where I slam the door.
My phone is full of notifications and I scroll through them hoping, praying, for one from You Know You Want It but there's nothing.
My knees buckle, tears gather. Breaths saw through my lungs. I slide to the floor as my call to You Know You Want It rings out over and over.